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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is more suitable for general use and comes with a 2-in-1 design offering a touchscreen, which makes it adaptable for presentations or creative tasks. It has a higher screen resolution and is slightly lighter, facilitating portability. On the other hand, the MSI GF65 Thin is tailored for gaming with a dedicated Nvidia graphics card, providing better 3D and machine learning performance. It boasts a higher refresh rate which is key for fast-paced gaming, but this comes at the cost of battery life which is significantly shorter than the Lenovo's. The MSI is also slightly heavier and has less RAM, which might affect multitasking ability. Both laptops offer similar storage and run Windows, but note that the MSI comes with Windows 10 while the Lenovo is equipped with Windows 11. Choose the Lenovo if you are looking for versatility and longer battery life, or the MSI if gaming and graphics capabilities are your priority. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Lenovo Flex 5 16
- Good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
- The MSI GF65 Thin has no clear advantages over the Lenovo Flex 5 16.
Key differences
General Use
7.6
6.5
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
11.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 stands out for general use with its higher-quality screen and longer battery life, complemented by ample RAM and a convertible design that enhances versatility. In contrast, the MSI GF65 Thin, while equipped with a powerful GPU great for gaming, has less RAM, a lower resolution screen, and a shorter battery life, which limits its appeal for users seeking a device primarily for general productivity and everyday tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.8
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GF65 Thin and Lenovo Flex 5 16 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI GF65 Thin is somewhat better.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16's performance in gaming and 3D is limited by its integrated graphics chip and standard screen refresh rate, while the MSI GF65 Thin offers superior 3D gaming experiences due to its dedicated Nvidia graphics card and much higher screen refresh rate.
Content Creation
7.6
6.8
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good for content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.5
6.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good for software development, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
7.3
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16's screen likely offers clearer images and brighter colors due to its higher resolution and panel technology, making it suitable for general use and detail-oriented work in engineering and design. However, its lower refresh rate may not be ideal for gaming and 3D applications, which can detract from the smoothness of fast-paced visuals. Conversely, the MSI GF65 Thin, while offering fair clarity and color accuracy for general use and engineering tasks, also falls short for gaming and 3D due to its screen's refresh rate and possibly inferior color coverage compared to higher-end models.
Battery
11.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has 11.5 hours of battery life. The MSI GF65 Thin has 4.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Cost
$779
$1,100
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has a price of $779 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
7.2
6.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo Flex 5 16 to be good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is equipped with a higher-end CPU and GPU and more RAM, beneficial for demanding engineering and design tasks that require processing power and multitasking, as well as a high-resolution screen, which is necessary for detailed work.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and MSI GF65 Thin both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
6.7
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo Flex 5 16 to have good build quality, while the MSI GF65 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Lenovo Flex 5 16 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Flex 5 16 | MSI GF65 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$779 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.74'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.63 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.09" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.99" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i5-10500H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 11.5 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 52.5 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 400 nits | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Lenovo Flex 5 16
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | April 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a solidly equipped, 2-in-1 in the lower price segment. Performance is definitely sufficient for everyday tasks and in tests the battery proved itself to be very economical. That aside, there is a lot of standard fare on show and a search for real highlights ends in vain. The low color coverage and reflective display can be avoided by going for an optional 2.5K display but this also presumably results in poorer battery life. The cooling uses only one fan and leads to a raised temperature on one side of the device under load. Additionally, there is very loud fan noise, also under load or when gaming. On top of that, we also occasionally noticed electronic noises."
MSI GF65 Thin
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | March 2021
"The MSI GF65 Thin offers a GeForce RTX 3060 on a budget. The MSI GF65 is a relatively inexpensive RTX 3060 laptop and, perhaps not coincidentally, it also comes with a slower-than-average RTX 3060 GPU. Other laptops we've tested thus far with the same GPU are about 10 to 15 percent faster. CPU performance is also slightly slower than average unless if users decide to enable Cooler Boost mode. Colors, black-white response times, Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort are either average or completely omitted. Gamers who want to maximize performance-per-dollar without sacrificing RAM or SSD upgradeability will find the lightweight MSI GF65 attractive."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo Flex 5 16 or the MSI GF65 Thin
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
About MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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